JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Many people have taken off work this Labor Day, but some local service men and women are spending the day serving others.
The first annual CPO Pride Day was held at the Veteran's Memorial Wall Monday morning. It was a time for new Naval Chief Petty Officers from Mayport, NAS Jax and King's Bay Naval Bases to celebrate their work, and the work of others.
"What better way, first thing in the morning, 0800 at colors, when we can bring this thing together and honor one another as well as those that came before us," said Command Master Chief Mack Ellis.
But the work didn't stop for the holiday. They listened as veterans told them what it means to serve, and prepared for a day of giving back to their community by serving lunch at a nearby homeless shelter.
"The military is 24/7," said Navy Diver Chief Select Alek Isokangas, "whether we're deployed from home or at home. But a lot of our veterans and homeless, they don't get to do that so it's an honor to give back a little bit."
And even though they're already sacrificing everything for their country, Isokangas said a day of serving others is an honor he couldn't pass up this Labor Day.
"Everybody that works hard around this country to make it what it is - it's really all about everybody else and not just us."
This was the first CPO Pride Day in Jacksonville. Master Chief Ellis says he hopes this will become a Labor Day tradition for many years to come. The new Chief Petty Officers will receive their pins on September 14.
